Clarets boss Sean Dyche admits the experience of the sack at Saturday’s opponents Watford helped mould him into the manager he is today.

Burnley travel to Vicarage Road, with the Clarets seventh in the Premier League after the club’s most successful period in the last 45 years or so.

The Pozzo family replaced Dyche with Gianfranco Zola after one season in charge, despite guiding Watford to their highest finish in four seasons.

And the Hornets’ loss was Burnley’s gain, as they appointed him in October 2012, and the rest is history.

Dyche has no hard feelings about his treatment, having spent three years as a player in Hertfordshire, before five years as Under 18s coach, assistant manager and manager: “There’s no story, it was a business change.

“There’s never been an angle to it, I was back there last week actually, doing a Q and A for something there.

“I had a fantastic time at Watford.

“Businesses change.

“That’s it, they wanted a different manager in.

“Of course, if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have what we’ve done here, so my glass is definitely half full.”

Dyche led Burnley to the Premier League in 2014, but the Clarets were relegated as Watford were promoted a year later.

The Clarets bounced back immediately, however, and, for someone in his seventh year in management, he has packed a lot into that time.

He goes back to Vicarage Road with his head held high, and he looked back on his time in the hot seat at both clubs: “It’s just the continuation of the experience of what it is to be a manager.

“There’s so many different sort of facets to it now, from the managers I speak to who are older and wiser than me, they said it was a lot more simplistic, you just got a team ready and worried about that.

“Now there’s the branding, the media side of it, the team, contracts, agents...

“So l think, season on season, the more experience you get, the better off you are for it.

“I’ve had a good mixture of experiences, as a relatively young manager, seven years in, when you think I’ve already had the sack, been promoted twice, relegated, and we’re still in the Premier League, so quite a lot’s happened in that time.

“Bought players, sold players, remodelled teams...

“I’m pleased with the personal side of it, but even more pleased with my staff and players – both clubs actually, I enjoyed my time at Watford.”